Fountainbrushes for mobile material



July 12, 1960 c. HOPKINS FOUNTAINBRUSi-IES FOR MOBILE MATERIAL Filed Sept. 14, 1953 INVEN ATTORNEY f/ap BY Ceca Z.

United States Patent C 2,944,274 FOUNTAINBRUSHES FOR MOBILE MATERIAL Cecil L. Hopkins, 120 Harding Way West,

Galion, Ohio Filed Sept. 14, 1953, Seiz'No. 379,851 2 Claims. (01. -139 The object of this invention is to devise a novel applicator wherein a tens-ioned brush moistened with the liquid to be dispensed, such as for example lacquer, will move forwardly through the discharge end of a nozzle and be maintained in its forward position during the application of the liquid to a desired surface.

A further object of the invention is to devise a novel nozzle and a novel valve rod which serves as a brush carrier and seals the discharge end of the nozzle when the brush is in its forward position.

With the foregoing and other objects in view as will hereinafter clearly appear, my invention comprehends a novel applicator.

It further comprehends a novel nozzle, a novel tensioned brush carrier, and a novel construction and combination of such parts.

Figure 2 is a sectional view \taken longitudinally through the applicator with the cap in place.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken longitudinally through the cap.

Figure 4 is a section on line 44 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The applicator has a tubular casing 21, closed at its rear end and open at its forward end to receive the rear end of a nozzle 22 which preferably has a tapered rear 7 end and a friction fit in the open end of the casing. The nozzle chamber near its forward end has an inwardly and forwardly converging wall 23 forming a valve seat and leading to a discharge opening 24. The nozzle chamber at its rear end portion has a radial annular shoulder forming a seat for a guide washer 27.

The guide washer 27 acts as a guide for a combined brush holder and valve 26 in the form of a rod recessed at its forward end to receive the head of a brush 25.

The brush holder -is formed with a reduced rear end 28 that has a clearance in a feed washer 29 fixed in any desired manner within the casing 21. A spring 30v is between the brush holder and feed washer and encircles the reduced end 28.

The nozzle 22 is threaded at 31 to cooperate with the internal threads 32 of an open ended cap 33. A sealing washer 34 within the cap and bearing against its closed end carries a brush rctractor 35 in the form of a headed rod having its head carried by the sealing washer 34 and its rear end directed rearwardly so that when the cap is ice Patented July 12, 1960 2 screwed onto the nozzle 22 the rctractor will contact the brush head and move the brush into the nozzle and compress the spring 30.

The operation is as follows:

When the cap 33 is connected with the, nozzle 22, the discharge end 24 of the nozzle is sealed by the sealing washer 34, the brush 25 is within the nozzle, the brush holder 26 is in its rearward position and the spring 30 is compressed.

Assuming now that the applicator is to be used, the cap 33 is removed and the spring 30 moves the brush holder 26 forwardly together with the brush 25, the latter passing through the discharge opening 24 and being maintained in its forward position by the spring. The forward end of the brush holder seats against the valve seat formed by the converging wall 23 to cut off the flow of liquid from the nozzle.

The brush holder26 has a clearance with the guide washer 27 to permit passage of fluid. The feed washer 29 has a clearance with the reduced end 28 of the brush holder to provide for flow of the liquid being applied. When the cap 33 is connected with the nozzle 22 the rctractor 35 returns the brush 25 within the nozzle and seals the discharge end of the nozzle.

The parts may be made of any desired material, but the nozle 22 and the cap 33 are preferably molded from The present arrangement allows the use of a spring 30 of any desired length since the washer 2.9 can be located at difierent distances from the nozzle 22. in the assembly of the device it is feasible to locate the washer 29 in its permanent position before the brush holder or stem 26, 28 and the spring 30 are assembled into the device.

The applicator of the present invention thus utilizes a pair of axially spaced washers to guide the brush assembly, the washers each surrounding the stem with intervening clearance providing for gravity flow of liquid past the washers axially of the stem. The first mentioned guide washer 27 can be placed in enlarged chamber portion 36 at the base of nozzle bore 37 and against its locating shoulder before the nozzle is assembled into the casing 21; the feed or second washer 29 can be located in its permanent position in the casing 21 before the brush holder or stem 26, 28 and the spring 30 are assembled into the device. Moreover, the arrangement described allows the use of a spring 30 of any desired length since the second washer 29 can be located at different distances beyond base end 38 of the nozzle 22. In the assembly process, the second washer 29 is made fast in the casing 21 without reference to the stern, spring or nozzle and while the latter is separated from the casing. Thus, the casing can be loaded with lacquer, or other liquid to be dispensed, with the washer 29 in place, and the stem and spring inserted later when the nozzle is assembled to the casing. The axial length of the main or larger diameter portion of the stem or brush holder 26 is such that in the projected use position, radial abutment shoulder 39 of such stem, against which the brush ejection spring 30 is seated, is disposed inwardly of the first or nozzle washer 27 and between the two washers. Thus, the possibility of engagement between the spring and the washer 27 is eliminated and throughout the axial travel of the stern such washer is engageable with a stern portion of uniform cross section in guiding such travel.

Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a fountain type liquid applying device comprising a hollow housing open at one end and having an internal reservoir chamber for liquid, a tubular nozzle having' formed ,with -a through passage having an inlet through the base end continuous with the chamber, a restriction providing a valve seat adjacent the tip end, and'a'discharge outlet through the tip end, an elongated stem extending longitudinally in the nozzle passage and having an inner end portion projecting through the inlet into the housing chamber, a deformable applicator fast on the outer end of the stem, the stem and applicator comprising a unit movable axially in the nozzle passage in one direction to engage the outer end of the stem locatingly and sealingly against the valve seat and to project the applicator through the outlet for use and in a reverse direction to retract the applicator into the nozzle passage for storage, a first washer fast in the nozzle and surrounding the stem as a guide to center the stern in the passage, a second Washer fast in the housing and surrounding the inner end portion of the stern as aguide to center the stem in the chamber, the washers each'surroundi-ng the stem with intervening clearance providing for gravity flow of liquid 1 past the washers axially of the stern, spring means seated on the second Washer and reacting against the stern to bias 7 the applicator unit to use position, the applicator and said outer end of the stem being receivable through the inlet opening of the nozzle and through thefirst washer in such assembly, and said inner end portion of the stern being 4 receivable through the end opening of the housing and the second washer in such assembly.

2. 111a liquid applying'device as in claim 2 the stern being formed with a shoulder which in the use position of the stem unit is disposed between the Washers and which constitutes an abutment to receive the reaction of the spring means, whereby in assembly the Washers can be first made fast and thereafter the spring means stressed to provide said bias.

Reterences Cited in thefile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 257,312 Gaynor et -al May 2, 1882 748,383 Langill Dec. 29, 1903 2,250,444 Brigham July 29, 1941 2,587,198 Mureau Feb. 26, 1952 2,611,915 Prokop et a1 Sept. 30, 1952 2,806,239 Wittnebert Sept. 17, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 24,925 Denmark Apr. 15, 1919 170,721 Germany' May 12, 1906 280,036 Switzerland Apr. 1, 1952 620,472 GreatBritain Mar.'24, 1949 

